The latest chapter in this farcical, slapstick season that all Rovers fans are enduring should have been accompanied by the theme tune to the Benny Hill Show! Nothing surprises me anymore from a club which has undergone a character assassination; from being a stable and well respected organisation both on and off the pitch to that of a dysfunctional shambles in the space of 12 short months.
The tragi-comedy witnessed at the D W Stadium at the weekend spoke volumes for the present day Rovers. Defensive errors, an untimely sending off, freak goals and a last second penalty to save the blushes against a side who could not buy a win sent the 4,000 plus supporters home demanding more answers as to the direction and immediate future of the club. And all of this was witnessed by our great leaders on a rare appearance to a live football match (or for the first half at least).
On the field we were pretty hopeless. The defence who were hardly blameless in the debacle received no help from a static midfield which in turn gave the Yak little if no support. We could argue all day about the morality of the Pedersen corner but that sort of gamesmanship has being going on since the day the first ball was kicked in anger. It is no better or worse than someone diving to influence the course of a game. Pedersen has come in for a certain amount of criticism in the last 24 hours but the incident has taking the headlines away from the deeper issues affecting the club.
It has been a couple of weeks since I last posted a blog. The International break gave many of us a bit of escapism from the circus which is Rovers. The daily dirge of persistent rumours and counter rumours were taking their toll on the supporters who have been the clubs' heartbeat for so long. I have never felt so disillusioned and detached from the club in 30 years of going to Ewood. I really do think the supporters’ patience has evaporated and something has to give to stop the club imploding on itself. It is not too late to re-build bridges but it will take much time and soul searching.
For any football manager to be fired he must have alienated the three elements that bind a club together. These are the board, players and fans. Two out of the three is not enough to show him the door. Steve Kean although he will disagree has certainly succeeded in falling out with the latter but by all accounts he still has the support of the board. But what about the players? Mr. Kean will shout from the top of Darwen Tower that everyone is united but evidence from yesterday, particularly when Robinson came up to supporters to thank them possibly against Kean's wishes, may tell another story.
The supporters have long become accustomed to the manager's post match interviews with countless tales of how we were 'robbed' and how well we played against top quality opposition in the form of Leyton Orient etc but on the evidence of yesterday Steve Kean's promise that the club will not get relegated appears to be a farfetched one.
The club has been firmly implanted in the national media spotlight for weeks now with the protests, owners and manager all coming under scrutiny. But when the dust settles on this sorry mess, what will the Venky's legacy be? A year ago they told us that a Champions League spot could well become a reality in the next few years, at the moment however a place in Conference looks a better bet. But what of the supporters?
When I started regularly going to Rovers in the early 80's, a crowd of 10,000 plus for a local derby or occasional cup run was eagerly anticipated and I still remember the excitement of going to Ewood on a day which was to see a bumper crowd. Then came the success of the 90's where attendances inflated from the 6,500 mark to 20,000 plus in a matter of 3 years. Undoubtedly a few of those who were tempted to Ewood to witness the golden years were not in it for the long haul but many were and will have passed down the 'bug' to their own children.
However 20 years have passed since the start of that wonderful time. It is from another era but the children of the early 1990's who watched first Speedie and then Shearer and Sutton from the Blackburn End will be in their late 20's and 30's now. Will their kids have the appetite to pick up the baton or could we see crowds return to pre 1991 levels in ten years as a result of the fallout from what we are currently witnessing? The hard work of the last two decades would be lost as would a generation of Rovers supporters.
Comments
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Posted by Steve A on 11/22/2011
It is truly sad. I am to the point where it's hard to argue the Rovers don't deserve to be relegated. The owners, manager, and most of the roster simply don't belong in the top tier. Maybe a year or two out of the Premier League will show the Venkys people that there is more to running a top flight club than showing up and pretending to know what you are doing. Hopefully they'll sell sooner than later.
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Posted by Black Granite on 11/23/2011
Kean found the team on the edge of a precipice and he took a step forward!!!
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Posted by Dave on 11/26/2011
Yet another lose Stoke 3 Rovers 1
Kean and the board will not listen to the fans calling for his head (well why would Kean when he is collecting a wage!).
The only way I can think you can get them to listen is if fans boycott the games till someting is done.......they would have to listen then!!????
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Posted by Andrew on 11/30/2011
Glen Mullan
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 29/11/ 2011
Blackburn Rovers Supporters planned protest
Saturday 3rd December v Swansea City at Ewood Park.
The supporters of Blackburn Rovers intend to carry out further protest this coming Saturday Before, during and After the Premiership Fixture with Swansea City. For nearly 3 months the supporters have been calling for the removal of first team Manager Steve Kean who has managed only 1 Premiership victory out of 13 this season. The team currently sits bottom of the Barclays Premiership, and History suggest Blackburn Rovers future as a Premiership team is firmly now in serious doubt. This is worst start to a season the club has made since the Premiership was formed and the team is has also failed to keep a clean sheet in its last 16 league Fixtures.
This week the Manager has said publically that he would meet with unhappy supporters. This is the second time the Manager has made this statement, the first time was on Sky Sports News the day after Blackburn Rovers only victory this season. He accepted an invitation from protest organiser Glen Mullan, however to date this meeting has not taken place.
The protest organisers have for 3 months tried to secure meetings with Steve Kean, The Board of directors at Blackburn Rovers And also the club owners Venkys. To date every avenue has been explored however the club has failed to acknowledge these plea’s and no common ground has been found so no meetings have taken place.
Throughout the last three months the organisers of the protest have made themselves available at all times to the club should they wish to discuss a way forward to bring an end to protest, however the club has refused to open up dialogue.
Following poor displays away at Wigan and Stoke where protest for the first time took place during the game, it’s the intention of the majority of supporters to protest, Win, Lose or Draw come Saturday.
Although Steve Kean’s results are unacceptable, we acknowledge that he currently is the only employee of Blackburn Rovers who is both facing the media, and also answering questions due to no-one within the club either willing to, or no-one in the club taking responsibility for the shambles which our club has become behind the scenes.
Supporters want answers from both the Board of Directors and also from Venkys. Protest will not stop until the club agrees to answer the majority of supporters concerns.
These concerns include:
• Why has Venkys taken out mortgages on future income and put none of their own wealth into the club?
• What is Jerome Anderson’s role at the club?
• Who is identifying player targets for the club?
• Why does no-one employed by Venkys here in England including the board not know the answers to the questions posed to them on the 4th November?
• How cut adrift at the bottom of the league does our club have to be before Steve Kean is removed as Manager of Blackburn Rovers?
• Why has Chief Decision make Mrs A Desai only been to Blackburn once in over 12 months?
• Why do we not have a chairman?
• Why do we not have a Chief Executive?
• Why have the club replaced employees who are widely recognised as some of the best in the modern game and replaced them with inexperienced individuals?
• Who owns Blackburn Rovers?
• Who owns Ewood Park and the training ground, and is it mortgaged and if so why?
• Why has the club denied the bid from Qataris when the Qatar Company insist a bid was made?
• What is the clubs contingency plan should we get relegated?
• Why will the board and Venkys not meet with supporters to listen to these concerns?
• Why has the club tried to ban supporter’s freedom of speech, by banning banners and yellow garments from Ewood Park?
• Why does the Manager insist on saying a majority of supporters are fully behind him when all evidence suggest otherwise?
• Why have the club planted seeds with statements that have brought violence to the stands at Ewood Park?
• Why has someone at Ewood Park passed the protest organisers personal details to individuals who have resulted in threats, and one assault to date?
• Why did the club not remove a R.I.P Banner with Glen Mullan’s name on which was attached to Blackburn Rovers ground Ewood Park for over 6 hours?
• Why have the club not made public the minutes of an interim meeting which took place on the 2nd November with 8 supporters?
• Why have the club not arranged the meeting with the board which was J Newshams recommendation following the interim meeting?
• Why did Venkys agree to refund a few supporters who travelled to Pune independently during their exhibition tour, and to date those individuals have not received a refund?
• Why has our principle sponsor had to go public about his concerns and the clubs lack of communication?
• Why did the club not manage to secure a paying sponsor for this year’s replica shirts?
• Why has the club been saying for 5 months that Junior Hoillet’s contract is as good as signed and still it appears no closer?
• Why does Venkys have no daily presence here in the UK involved in the day to day running of the club?
• Why did the owners leave at Half-time during the recent Wigan Athletic Fixture
• Why was Steve Kean rewarded with a new contract, when our league position and his performance of just 6 wins in 34 games is one of the worst the league has ever witnessed?
• What is the Role of Steve Kean at Ewood Park, as the club have confirmed he does not communicate with them and answers directly to Pune?
• Why have all our accounts been removed from the UK and moved over to India
The plan for Saturday
Supporters will assemble outside Ewood Park from 14.30 to call for Venkys to sell the club and for the removal of Steve Kean. This will then be taken into the ground where for 90 minutes the chants will continue. The supporters have been advised any banners will be removed by the stewards. Following the game win, lose or draw the supporters will continue to their demonstrations.
Supporters have been purchasing T-Shirts reading “100% Support the Players 0% Venkys and Kean. Over a thousand of these have been purchased to date and orders are being made daily. During the Stoke fixture supporters were told to remove these T-Shirts or they would be refused entry or ejected from the ground. This was another attempt by Blackburn Rovers to take away people’s freedom of speech and to entice the crowd to become hostile amongst each other. This was also evident at the Wigan Athletic fixture when Steve Kean gestured to the fans in a provocative way. After speaking with the Police they have advised me they will be opposing any plans by the club to remove the yellow T-shirts from supporters at a meeting on Wednesday. As this is seen as a step to far, there is no official word from the club on their plan of action this weekend.
Supporters are also purchasing Yellow and Black scarfs, these scarfs are aimed at the owners and their disapproval of how they are running the club. The general feeling amongst supporters is they wish Venkys to sell the club, if indeed they own it, and let someone who has the clubs best interest at heart take control.
A section of supporters will also take part in a concourse walk off during the game on Saturday in each stand. Supporters will make their way to the concourse area at an agreed time which will be kept amongst supporters.
Protest organisers Glen Mullan & Simon Littler Statement:
“These will be the most intense protests to date as the club has shown a total lack of respect to its paying customer. Communication from the Board of Directors, Venkys and Steve Kean has been zero since the club was bought over 12 months ago. No-one at Ewood Park seems willing to answer any questions or meet with any supporters to address these concerns. It is not clear who now makes decisions at Blackburn Rovers, whilst our club has become a shambles both on and off the pitch. Despite our best efforts over the last 3 months to open dialogue with the Owners and Board of directors the club has ignored all contact. We feel the club should be looking to work with supporters to bring a peaceful end to Protest, Supporters have always had an open door and willingness to open up discussions. It is the belief of many supporters that the club is not being run in accordance with Premier league guidelines and off the field activity could have a bigger bearing on the clubs future than that which is currently taking place on the pitch. We once again make an open plea to Venkys and the Board of Directors to have a meeting with the clubs supporters here in Blackburn and ease these concerns for the long term benefit of the supporter’s relationship with the club”
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Posted by Andy on 12/02/2011
A lot of questions! I hope you get the answers.
I think Rovers will drop this season - you need new owners. People who are passionate about English football, passionate about your club.
It is sad that we have to rely on foreign investors - where have all the wealthy English business who love football gone? I suppose the risks are too great these days! KRO
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